THE MULE DEER, 



159 



By this animal, I saw that the antlers are no sure criterion 

 of the age or size of a Deer. Those of this immense creature 

 were comparatively small ; I have killed bucks of not two- 

 thirds his weight with much larger antlers. 



This was beginning our hunt in good fashion. We had 

 liver for supper and breakfast; and there is no better meat 

 to satisfy the appetite or to tramp on. Daylight saw us 

 astir, and headed for the great ravine east of us. My 



friend preferred to walk along the brow; so I took a lower 

 line, though having more uneven ground to get over, while 

 he passed all the ravines at their head. 



I was repaid. After about half a mile of toilsome up-and- 

 down climbing, I heard Reed's gun to my left. I rushed 

 up the incline before me, just in time to see two fine year- 

 lings at which he had shot, and which now stood looking 

 at me. I fired for the shoulder of the largest; he made 

 three or four violent plunges, and went headlong and dead 



